Then the other German delegates affixed their signatures as witnesses, and Marshal Foch wrote his name. So the armistice was signed. While formal peace negotiations would not be begun for perhaps months, the war was over so far as actual fighting was concerned. In signing Marshal Foch’s terms, Germany virtually had signed away her rights to be classed as one of the great powers. Besides agreeing to surrender the bulk of her arms and ammunitions, she had announced she would give up her most effective weapon of warfare—the submarine—the majority of her undersea craft to be turned over to the allied navies at a specified time. By the terms of the armistice, Germany agreed to withdraw her armies from occupied territories to the east bank of the Rhine. It was stipulated that mooted questions, such as the disposition of the captured German colonies and the amount of indemnity Germany would be required to pay, would be left to the formal peace council of the allies. But, to make it absolutely certain that Germany would have to accept the decisions of the peace council, Marshal Foch, in imposing his stringent armistice terms, had tied the hands of the foe. Germany, once the terms of the armistice had been carried out, would have practically nothing with which to fight should she desire to resume the struggle. Marshal Foch, having pocketed the document, indicated that the conference was adjourned. "There is no other business before us, I believe, gentlemen," he said, "so I shall detain you no longer. I have much work to do in the next twenty-four hours and I must get about it." At the door to the car the German envoys saluted the French commander-in-chief before taking their departure. Marshal Foch returned the salute stiffly. Upon suggestion of General Dupree, Hal and Chester were to take the German envoys back to their own lines. Neither lad was greatly pleased with the task, but there was no use of protest. The trip was made in record time, but when Hal and Chester returned to Hirson in the airplane, they found that Marshal Foch and his staff had gone to Soissons. "Did the commander-in-chief leave any instructions for us?" Hal asked of the mayor. "None," was the reply. "Then we must report to him in Soissons," declared Chester. "We may not return to our own command without his permission, Hal." "Right you are, Chester. Well, as long as we have this plane at our disposal, we shall continue to Soissons in it, if our good mayor here has no objections." "None, sir," said the burgess of Hirson. "I am proud to be honored, as is every one of my fellow citizens. This has been a great event for Hirson." "And for the world," said Hal briefly. "Very true, sir," replied the burgess; "and for the world. But the plane is yours, if you will have it. After 11 o’clock to-morrow morning, we will have need of no such messenger of the air."